Offer Advice

KatieDee

ReadingTim wrote: »

If you've only found three places worth making an offer on in a year and a half, I don't think the problem is the state of the economy, the state of brexit or the state of the property market to be honest - it's you.

You're either far too risk averse for your own good, or have unrealistic expectations vs budget. If this one falls through, I think you need to take a long hard look at what you're looking for and what you've got to spend, as I don't think the 2 are aligned.

One place to start might be to look at recently sold prices in the area in which you're interested, so you can see exactly what sort of thing has been selling at the sort of price you're looking to spend.

Generally speaking, there's always a trade off / compromise amongst the following:

• price
• location
• features

- you can only have 2 of those 3!

Ouch!

But you really have hit the nail on the head. I'm risk averse and I have very high expectations of what I would like a house to be like. As you said, I can't have everything without the price tag to go with it, so I completely agree with your suggestion of an overhaul of what is realistic!

I am feeling much better about the house after we had a chat about it and focused on the good bits. Not 100%, but much happier.

Frustrating though, as we haven't heard back from the EA about existing house and the new list of houses from the other one hasn't materialised

Crashy_Time

KatieDee wrote: »

I can definitely see us living there. Loads of space, beautiful light rooms, perfect condition. Had I seen this house before the property we originally offered on, I probably would have chosen it over that one (however, it was massively over our budget, so we never even considered it).

We got "that feeling" for the original house we offered on too, but that has now dissipated due to the vendors attitude - so I no longer trust my feelings :rotfl:

I am just so confused. I honestly think I've just stressed myself out about it and I now feel like I don't trust my own judgment. If I'd have viewed the new house without the other one falling through, I probably would have really liked it and considered offering, no problem. Instead, I've googled every potential issue and wound myself up about it not being perfect (like the other one we missed out on). But even now, if the vendors of perfect house came back to me and offered it for the same price, I'm honestly not certain I'd go for it.

I really, really like the new house but I just feel completely guarded on it. I feel like if I got it for as low as possible, it'd be a bargain and I could deal with the slight issues. Paying anymore would seem like I'd settled, in my head. So hard to explain!

I called the EA to discuss and even she said that she'd encourage the vendor to accept, as the price it is on for is too high. She also said, much to my surprise, that we shouldn't consider upping our offer unless we really like it. She said to go with our gut feeling. Never have I ever had an EA tell me to think about anything properly!

It`s fantastic that even EA`s are starting to wake up to reality, really encouraging.

babyblade41

I list my top priorities which a house must have without exception, there are only 3 for us .

Without those 3 things I won't even view as there can be no compromise , after that then everything else can be overcome.

My first is location, second is the outside space we need for our rescues and south west facing or as near as damnit

The last 2 houses my husband viewed and I only saw it when moving in. I can tell so much from a floorpan with dimensions and pictures so I can visualise the whole thing and if he tells me it's suitable then that's all that matters

After many years of buying and selling there is very rarely a perfect house but if your top must haves have been catered for then everything else will fall into place

Before I even market mine I look for about 6 months on RM and have my favourites list , when I get an offer I go through that list and narrow it down.

My husband or I will view all on the same day to make comparisons fairly quickly then offer .

I don't look at landscaping, kitchens , bathrooms as they will invariably change that's why I always need a floorpan

I don't go in too low as I want a relatively good rapport at the beginning but I will always have a top offer which I think I would be happy to accept if it were my house.

I think without being rude your budget and expectations are a little off kilter so possibly start prioritising what you must have and work from that

Dean000000

KatieDee wrote: »

I imagine they do, yes. What does this have to do with anything?

...the suggestion being the last dealings you had with an EA started the exact same was as you describe now, but ended in you accusing the EA of playing games, the vendor of being selfish and unreasonable, and the entire MSE forum of being full of ‘losers’ and ‘pathetic keyboard warrior idiots’ (to memory - most have since been deleted)

I think that was his point.....

KatieDee

Dean000000 wrote: »

...the suggestion being the last dealings you had with an EA started the exact same was as you describe now, but ended in you accusing the EA of playing games, the vendor of being selfish and unreasonable, and the entire MSE forum of being full of ‘losers’ and ‘pathetic keyboard warrior idiots’ (to memory - most have since been deleted)

I think that was his point.....

Hi Dean,

I think you're getting me mixed up with a different poster who put in a low offer and then started kicking off at the vendor for not accepting, then the forum was suggesting why this might happen. My previous thread was about how our vendor started making unrealistic demands so we were considering pulling our offer.

Totally different posters (although I seem to remember her name was Katie based too!?!). Easy to mix the two but I've been in this forum for years and years and would never conduct myself in that way. Honestly don't know what I would have done without it.

Dean000000

Please accept my sincerest of apologies. Your opening statement (remember me with the similar name) triggered alarm bells...

I formally retract my statement, but will leave it there for context

KatieDee

Dean000000 wrote: »

Please accept my sincerest of apologies. Your opening statement (remember me with the similar name) triggered alarm bells...

I formally retract my statement, but will leave it there for context

No need to apologise - these things happen and I was just as shocked at the contents of that other thread as you were! It is very frustrating when people don't like an answer, so resort to personal insults. Although some of the replies on here were a bit jarring to me, I know they were honest and I appreciate that.

We have very similar names, the threads were posted at a very similar time (so I see the mix up!), but I like to consider myself as slightly more open to criticism :rotfl:

Dark_Star

If you need to be in that area by a particular time - could you rent? That would give you more time to look & be in a good position with no chain (unsure of what your present renting/selling situation is).


It's better to have the worst house on the best street as you can decorate/knock down walls etc.


You could have the best house on the worst street but you can never move the nuclear reactor/world's loudest nightclub or whatever the fabulous house is backing onto....


I'd go for a fixer-upper every time...


Plus I need to be able move the bins easily from front to back & not carry garden clippings/recycling/rubbish etc through the house if the bins had to live at the front. Seems like anything for the garden would have to go through your house - garden furniture/BBQ/shed etc...would it fit through a door?


Our criteria is:
train station - for commuting/days out
garden - no garden, no sale!
corner shop - for bread/milk etc without having to get in the car as we prefer a village location
Some sort of fireplace. Or at the very least - a chimney.


Top 2 are deal breakers. Last 2 - wishful rather than necessity.


Current house had very ugly gas fire BUT this was removed, log burner installed & yay - lovely toasty fire as per wish list. These days log burners can be installed pretty much anywhere & milk/bread can be delivered by the milkman...


So yes, your wish list needs to be adaptable.


Maybe have a re-think & look again on rightmove at stuff you would not have considered?


Good luck

Dean000000

KatieDee wrote: »

No need to apologise - these things happen and I was just as shocked at the contents of that other thread as you were! It is very frustrating when people don't like an answer, so resort to personal insults. Although some of the replies on here were a bit jarring to me, I know they were honest and I appreciate that.

We have very similar names, the threads were posted at a very similar time (so I see the mix up!), but I like to consider myself as slightly more open to criticism :rotfl:

No probs.

We are a good few days on now...what’s the latest?

Had you submitted you bid? How was it met?

KatieDee

Dark_Star wrote: »

If you need to be in that area by a particular time - could you rent? That would give you more time to look & be in a good position with no chain (unsure of what your present renting/selling situation is).


It's better to have the worst house on the best street as you can decorate/knock down walls etc.


You could have the best house on the worst street but you can never move the nuclear reactor/world's loudest nightclub or whatever the fabulous house is backing onto....


I'd go for a fixer-upper every time...


Plus I need to be able move the bins easily from front to back & not carry garden clippings/recycling/rubbish etc through the house if the bins had to live at the front. Seems like anything for the garden would have to go through your house - garden furniture/BBQ/shed etc...would it fit through a door?


Our criteria is:
train station - for commuting/days out
garden - no garden, no sale!
corner shop - for bread/milk etc without having to get in the car as we prefer a village location
Some sort of fireplace. Or at the very least - a chimney.


Top 2 are deal breakers. Last 2 - wishful rather than necessity.


Current house had very ugly gas fire BUT this was removed, log burner installed & yay - lovely toasty fire as per wish list. These days log burners can be installed pretty much anywhere & milk/bread can be delivered by the milkman...


So yes, your wish list needs to be adaptable.


Maybe have a re-think & look again on rightmove at stuff you would not have considered?


Good luck

Thank you for your suggestions

I don't want to rent - we have a cat and I think it might be difficult to find somewhere nice that allows them. Secondly, the cost to do this will be quite high (considerably lower after June) and we might end up missing out anyway if something new comes up.

I've had a really good think (I know I keep saying that!) and we sat together and reviewed our "Must have" list last night, as well as an in-depth pro and con list. It has helped me look at the property in a different way and now I do think it is a reasonable option for us. I think we've just had such a huge change of circumstances that it has been difficult for me to make any solid decisions.

Absolutely nothing coming up on Rightmove at the moment and I've been scouring it consistently for the past few months I've spoken to all the surrounding EA's and asked to be made aware when anything comes up but there still doesn't seem to be anything suitable.

Dean000000 wrote: »

No probs.

We are a good few days on now...what’s the latest?

Had you submitted you bid? How was it met?

We submitted the initial bid and the EA told us that she felt it was reasonable and would speak to the vendor. The vendor was away over the weekend and she couldn't get in touch with her. I called again yesterday and she had no update but encouraged us to stick with our offer. I'm still none the wiser of what's actually going on and have followed this up again today with an email. I figured if it had been accepted or a counter offer made, she would have contacted us, given how long it has been on the property for.

My solicitor who has previously been amazing has dropped off the face of the earth and I haven't heard from them in almost a week, despite sending a few queries (some about the previous vendor, etc).

I honestly feel like I'm either a ghost, or everybody in the area I want to move to is ignoring me :rotfl: